[scroll to the bottom of the post for an update on the cookbook giveaway winner]
Autoimmune disease is no joke. Did you know that when taken together, autoimmune diseases make up the 3rd largest cause of morbidity? Many experts argue that autoimmune disease is the single biggest epidemic in the world today, and yet we aren’t hearing much about it. The statistics and trends are disturbing, to say the least.
Beyond the numbers, I have been deeply affected by autoimmune disease on a very personal level. My mother was diagnosed with Lupus in 1991 and struggled with it for years until her death in 2011. Having watched her live in chronic pain and a constant state of debilitating deterioration, it’s no accident I chose health and wellness as my path. And I am no stranger to the horrors that an autoimmune disease can entail.
It’s a bold statement, but here I go: if my mother had known about and used the tools in this book, The Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook, she may very well still be alive today.
You see, our diet and digestion are fundamentally and inextricably linked to the health of our immune system, about 80% of which lines our intestines. Any foods that cause inflammation – undiagnosed food sensitivities, inherently inflammatory foods such as sugar, wheat, processed foods, and so on – are going to trigger an immune response as well as aggravate the delicate lining of the digestive tract.
In an autoimmune disease, the immune system goes awry and attacks the body’s own healthy tissue, rather than foreign pathogens. Any foods that are triggering an inflammatory response are going to put additional stress on the immune system and ultimately exacerbate this process.
And so, the logical and powerfully effective path to healing is to remove any foods triggering that inflammatory response, so as to relieve pressure on the immune system.
The Autoimmune Protocol is a therapeutic dietary protocol that does exactly this. It has helped many people struggling with a whole variety of different autoimmune diseases. While it’s very effective, it’s not an easy diet to follow. The foods eliminated are significant:
- all grains, including gluten-free grains
- all nuts
- all beans and legumes
- all seeds (whole seeds as well as ground seeds – this has a big impact on your spice cabinet)
- eggs
- dairy of any form
- nightshades (any peppers – this also has an impact on your spice cabinet – tomatoes, eggplant, and potatoes)
- and of course the obvious ones: alcohol, any artificial ingredients added to processed foods, and even NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen)
So what are you left with?
- vegetables
- root vegetables
- good fats (no nut or seed oils)
- quality meat
- “offal” (bone broth, gizzard, liver, kidney and so on – I can hear your sigh of relief from here! Oh, at least I can still eat kidney!)
- fruit
- herbs
- aromatic spices (cinnamon, garlic, ginger, turmeric, and so on)
- coconut
- fermented foods
- a few natural sweeteners for the occasional treat such as dates, dried fruit, honey, maple syrup, and molasses
(If you’d like to read more about details of this protocol, you may want to pick up a copy of Sarah Ballantyne’s book The Paleo Approach.)
As you can see, there are still many delicious foods you can eat, so you certainly won’t go hungry. But it’s still a challenge for those of us who don’t specialize in getting super creative in the kitchen to figure out how to turn this list into dinner.
And here is where Mickey Trescott’s amazing Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook comes in. As anyone who’s ever tried to adopt a new way of eating knows, it’s one thing to know what to eat; it’s a completely different thing to know how to make it happen in your day-to-day life. Mickey has answered this question for the Autoimmune Protocol beautifully and thoroughly.
I’ve been trying out her recipes over the last few weeks and I can tell you they’re delicious. Personal favorites so far are the Sage Braised Chicken Legs, Creamy Coconut Milk (so much easier than how I’d been making it previously), Bacon Beef Liver Paté with Rosemary and Thyme, and what will accompany our lunch today: Sweet Potato Fries with Garlic Mayo (egg-free and dairy-free of course!).
Clearly, we’re not talking about deprivation here!
Mickey has generously let me share her Garlic Mayo recipe with you here:
1/2 cup Coconut Concentrate (coconut flakes pureed in the food processor with a touch of coconut oil to make a paste)
1/2 cup filtered water, warm
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 to 4 cloves garlic
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend on high for a minute or two, until a thick sauce forms (when freshly made, it should resemble the consistency of conventional mayonnaise).
If the sauce is too thick, thin with water until the desired consistency is reached.
Note: In order to measure the coconut concentrate, it is best to soften it in a warm water bath before use as it is solid at room temperature.
Storage: Keeps well in the refrigerator, but hardens. Let come to room temperature or warm to soften before using.
Giveaway! Who won a copy of The Autoimmune Paleo Cookbook?
We are delighted to report that Arliss Anderson is the lucky winner of a signed copy of The AutoImmune Paleo Cookbook. Congratulations!! Arliss, please email us at info (at) eatnakednow (dot) com with your mailing address and we’ll get that book off to you asap!
(Choosing a winner was dreadfully difficult. If we could, we’d buy every single one of you a copy! Unfortunately, we’re not able to do that so we used random.org to pick a winner for us.)
I think the recipes in this cookbook would help my gut issues.
I would love to win the book!! I deal with IBS and food intolerance issues daily, and it’s draining me of any life I could be having. This book looks like it could be the answer to my problems 🙂
I have an autoimmune disorder and have been trying to cook autoimmune friendly foods for the past week. It’s been hard thinking of new recipes so this book would definitely help!
I have an severe hyperthyroidism abd would love to learn more about ways to treat such autoimmune disorders!
Thank fm you for the great, healthful information and a giveaway!
I would love to win the book! I have just started working on digestive issues, and the whole Paleo way of eating is intimidating to me. I’m not very creative in the kitchen and I just want to get meals on the table quick!
As an NTP, I am constantly being asked for Paleo, AIP, GAPS, and Real Food recipes. This would be such a helpful tool for working with my clients and in my own kitchen! 🙂
I have fibromyalgia and now became gluten intolerant. So I am thinking both are related to gut problems. This book would be a great help. Thanks for the chance to win it.
I have been suffering from an undefined Autoimmune disease for years. No doctor can tell me exactly what the disease is, only that it’s affecting me and my body the way other autoimmune diseases do. I have already eliminated so many things from my diet, but I do rely a lot on nuts and seeds. I would love to try some more of your recipes, and learn other ways to cook so that I can eliminate more food from my diet that might be contributing negatively to my health.
Hi, I would love to win a copy of this book for my mom who suffers from RA. Thanks!
I would love to get my hands on this book! My family and I are on a quest to find the best eating habits to heal our gut and live a chemical free life. I am going back to school in September (God willing) to become a Nutritional Practitioner and am willing to learn from every angle what could be right for different individuals 😀
I need this cookbook! I’ve been struggling for my entire life with health issues that stem from huge amounts of chronic inflammation. Just as you discuss, I’m not a creative kitchen type, nor do I have time to think things up, so preparation and mealtime is always very stressful. This book would be so helpful!
Would love to learn more about AIP and get some AIP recipe inspiration. Thanks for the giveaway =)
I’d love to win this book for me. I was diagnosed Autoimmune positive in December, but RA negative with all the signs and symptoms. I had a cortisone shot in January. My Dr wants to put me on medication (rare side effect…blindness). I want to try natural approaches like changing my diet. I need this book. My joints in my hands are swollen and painful. I just had to go buy size 9 1/2 shoes because my feet are so swollen; Ive been an 8 for 20+ years. I’ve lost17 pounds since eliminating gluten and milk from my diet in December. Still no change in my swelling and pain. I’m 100% committed. Thanks for offering this giveaway.
I’d use my copy to demonstrate recipes in my NTP classes, and teach my clients with autoimmune issues that there are tasty ways to eat for their conditions, and encourage them to buy their own copy! I am a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, and many of my clients are well on their way to autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s, for instance.
My sweet 22 yr old daughter has been battling auto immune disorders for several years. She has recently discovered the benefits of changing her diet. It’s a struggle to find food and recipes that are tasty. I would love to give this to her!
This could change my life 🙂
I suffer from Hashimotos and could really use the support of yummy recipes!
Hi! I’d love to receive a copy to help towards my 3yo son’s healing process from several food allergies.
I’m starting to follow autoimmune protocol diet for myself due to M.S. and this cookbook would be awesome!
I would love to win this book because I am daunted by going full AIP Paleo without some type of guide on this crazy health journey.
I have been following the Autoimmune Paleo diet for a while and would love to have an easy reference cookbook in the kitchen. Thank you for the giveaway!
This book is beautiful and has been on my wish list for a while now. I would love to get it for my grandpa who is diabetic.
I would love to win this book because I have Celiac disease and have been feeling not so good for years. I felt a lot of relief with plain paleo, but know that i need to take it up a notch with the AIP since I’m not fully healing. I definitely want this book to help!
If you’ll ship to Canada, I would love love love this book to help support me in my journey to reverse my own autoimmune disease.
I would love to win a copy so I could support all of those in need. I would love to be a part of their relief in dealing with an issue that has perplexed many. I wish that this would have been available when my daughter was dealing with this, autoimmune/hasimoto’s, and we had exhausted all of our options at that time!
Hope to hear from you soon!!
I would love to win this book. I have 6 autoimmune diseases and would like some food ideas.
I would love this book. My whole family is transitioning to Paleo & AIP because I have fibromyalgia and my children severe food allergies. We can’t afford to purchase it now & I could really use some help with recipes! Thanks!
Every chance I get to better my hypoactive thyroid is a blessing. I still have my ups and downs but have noticed since I started cooking a more AIP style it has helped greatly!!! Would live to win to have my first hard copy AIP cookbook…always love the pictures and it’s nice when you don’t have to worry about your Pinterest screen shutting off numerous times in the middle of the recipe lol 🙂
I’d love to win this cookbook because 11 weeks ago my food world was turned upside down with a diagnose of food and environmental allergies. Luckily, my boyfriend is a chef, or I’b be surviving on avocadoes! Still, he’s new to the whole concept, too. I have to say, I walk around all day feeling HUNGRY, so it would be great to be more educated and inspired!
Would love to win a copy – the recipe side of things is the only hindrance for me to go fully AIP – and I’m sure it would make the final difference! Really like your input on Facebook! Thank you! 🙂
Oh, I’ve so been coveting this book! Been on AIP for a couple of weeks now and this book would be very welcome. The recipes look amazing! Thanks for entering me into the draw. Minna
P.S. Your website looks great too! 🙂
Hi~
I would love to have a copy of this cookbook to test out recipes and share with clients.
I would love to win a copy, as I have RA and Lupus both.
Would LOVE this book! Have been on this protocol for 7 weeks and need to expand my food choices. Really want this to work to put my 2 autoimmune conditions into remission. (Graves and Sjorgren’s)
I would give this cookbook to a friend that is suffering from autoimmune disease.
I have hashimotos for 11 yrs and just started AIP. Would love this book to heal my body n mind. Thank you.
I have been working hard for about 15 years to find the right protocol for healing my autoimmune issues, including celiac, hashimotos and peripheral neuropathy. I’ve come a long way but my quest is still on. I would be thrilled to have a copy of this cookbook as I move forward in my own healing as well as learning all I can to help support others seeking solutions to their autoimmune issues. My mother is currently dying of pancreatic cancer and she has her share of autoimmune issues- including celiac. I really resonate with your feelings around wanting to have helped your mother. I’ve come up against these same issues. She wanted to make changes in her diet early in her diagnosis but just couldn’t comply. And since I can’t consistently be there to cook for her, my efforts have been futile. This experience has strengthen my desire to get this important information out there. There really are ways to manage/heal these issues. It isn’t impossible.
I’d love the cookbook to help with my own autoimmune and help my sisters who also have it!
My sister and I are trying to put together all new recipes because we are doing really well since we started the AIP we want our chlidren to start benefiting from it too.
I’d like to get a copy of this book to ease the transition from Paleo to AIP.
Hi! I would like to win a copy of this book for me to share with my mom. I have been struggling with hypothyroid for 9 years now and just recently from my own research and coming across sites like this I learned that I can truly help myself by changing my diet and lifestyle. Something no doctor (and I saw a lot over the years) every told me. Take this pill, take that pill is all I ever heard- until I was taking 15 pills a day! I nearly passed out one day from all the nasty side effects, I’m learning to eat clean now and am embarking on a new lifestyle . (Down to just 2 pills! ) I just love it! I think this book will give me lots of new recipes to add to my toolkit and I love to cook with my mom (who also suffers from an autoimmune disease).
Thanks do sharing your great site with us all.
I would love to have any cook book that will help me. I have been living daily, with pain, well, everywhere for more years than I can remember. I having been searching, trying anything I can find to help. Help!
This book would be a blessing to me. I have ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis. I have been on GAPS with some improvement. Still having terrible flares. So I have just started reading about this. I’m so excited to try. It really is my last hope for help in my health.
I would really appreciate a copy of this book. I have RA and am trying to eat Paleo. I haven’t gone into the full autoimmune protocol yet but know it would likely help. It is difficult teaching with the RA flares.
I would love to win this cookbook! I am beginning on my own AIP journey thanks to my own autoimmune issues and I could sure use some inspiration!
I would love to win this book,I’ve been bumbling along trying for the past month to follow the Paleo diet.I suffer from Crohn’s disease and bronchectisis both autoimmune and feel this book would be of great benifit thankyou.
Hi there!! I really need some ideas for my household! We’ve been AIP for about a month and now that I have the basics I would love to try some different recipes!! Especially for my boys 🙂
This book would save me!! Thank you!
I would love to win this cookbook to help me stick to an eating plan that can help me heal my thyroid. Thank you for the chance to win!
My last two months have been a whirlwind, as I was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer. After surgery I opted for a more holistic approach rather than the conventional radiation/chemo route. Guess what kind of diet my doctors said is ESSENTIAL for me to be on!?! Your cookbook is “just what the doctor ordered” Thanks for your helping so many of us on a path to health! 🙂
I would love to win this book because even with all the knowledge I have I still struggle with so many issues, and I am very curious to see how they incorporate autoimmunity health into the recipes!!!
My husband and I are Pale – I have an autoimmune condition and trying to find ideas and inspiration for the AIP is quite difficult I find. This book would be great to help solve that problem. Plain old meat and veg gets a bit monotonous at times 🙂
THank you to Margaret, chef James and the team for sharing this book with us! I am not able to buy it on Amazon in Canada. Hopefully it will be available soon. THank you once again. I LOVE receiving your emails.
Very cool information and very timely for Bradley and I. We both have autoimmune disease and eating right for us is always a challenge. This book and the obviously creative and delicious recipes would really add to my repertoire of cooking. It is always hard to come up with new ideas that are easy to make:)
Love all your stuff. You guys rock!
lenda
For my 16 month old daughter and my step mother, both diagnosed this year. Need to fix my girls!
We eat primarily paleo after I was diagnosed with Celiac last summer. My daughter has a multitude of allergies to paleo seems to accommodate many of them well. THis would be great to help add some variety to our meals.
I’m addicted to cookbooks, but we just switched over to a healthier lifestyle. I need to restart my collection!